Bart and Cathy Holaday pledge $1 million to the Library

We are delighted to announce that Bart and Cathy Holaday have pledged $1 million towards the renovation of Exeter College Library. Bart came to Exeter as a Rhodes Scholar in 1965 to read PPE, having been a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado where he was class president and a varsity athlete. He began his career serving in the US Air Force, and then as a civil servant, moving on to become a successful venture capitalist for 20 years. He and his family have been very generous donors to the College (and many other charitable causes), establishing the Holaday Scholarships at Exeter in 2002 and funding the Dakota Café at Cohen Quad.

When asked why he felt motivated to give towards Exeter’s library renovation Bart replied, “I have strong memories of the library from my student days. First, the books were a wonder to me. I remember walking in shortly after I arrived and pulling a book off the shelf. It looked old but when I read the copyright date I was astounded—1668. I cannot claim I spent a great deal of time in the library after that. It was cold, musty and uncomfortable, but it was quiet. I am thrilled now with the creative and magnificent renovation plans which will make our library the heart of the College, with everything a modern library should have—including heat. My family and I are delighted to be a small part of this vital enhancement to our College.”

Make a gift to support the transformation of the College library.